Sewing machine attachment



Sept. 24,1946. 0. w. MARTIN. 2,408,025

SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed June '7, 1944 2 Sheet sSheet l CLES MARTW.

Attorneys Sept. 24, 1946. c, w. MARTIN SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Filed June 7, 1944 Patented Sept. 24, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a sewing machine attachment of that type designed to fold a strip of cloth preparatory to stitching the same to the edge of a garment in the production of collars, cuffs, waistbands, facings and the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine attachment of the above kind which is extremely simple and durable in construction, eflicient in operation, and otherwise well adapted to meet with the. requirements for a successful commercial use.

Another object of the present inveniton is to provide an attachment of the above kind which is readily adjustable for folding strips of material of different widths, and which is readily adjustable relative to the sewing machine for operating most efiiciently in accordance with the particular work at hand.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of the above kind which includes means for guiding a reinforcing strip between the opposed portions of another wider strip folded by the attachment, which reinforcing strip guiding means is adjustable for accommodating reinforcing strips of various widths corresponding to the width of the strip being folded.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of the above kind which may be readily moved to inoperative position when not required for use, which may be readily attached to the sewing machine, and which includes a supporting means and strip guiding and folding means which are readily separable so that the latter may be removed when not required for use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of the above kind which includes an adjustable device for properly guiding the folded strip underneath the presser foot of the sewing machine in position to be stitched to the edge of the garment.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more. fully described, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a power sewing machine equipped with an attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the attachment,

per se.

Figure 3 is an elevation looking upwardly at Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end elevation looking toward the right of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an end elevation looking toward the left of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a power sewing machine 5 having a needle 6 and a presser foot 1. Threads are suitably fed in the machine for the stitching operation in any well known or preferred manner. In using the present invention, a suitable support 8 may be provided for a reel 9 on which is wound a strip of material It that is adapted to be folded by the, present attachment preparatory to its attachment to the edge of a garment. Also, another suitable support H may be provided for a second reel i2 on which is wound a narrower strip of material or cloth I3 that may be guided by the present attachment between the opposed portions of the strip it where the latter is folded by the present attachment, so as to serve as a reinforcement for the folded strip I ll.

The present attachment consists of asupport including a U-shaped bracket M having an elongated intermediate portion and relatively short end or legportions, one of said leg portions being provided with an extension I5 parallel with the intermediate portion of the bracket and apertured at 16 for the reception of screws l! by means of which the bracket I4 is rigidly attached to the front of the sewing machine 5 so that the bracket 14 is disposed horizontally and terminates adjacent but to one side of the needle 6 and the presser foot I, as shown in Figure 1. The support further includes a pair of spaced posts l3 whose lower ends are welded or otherwise suitably attached to the inner faces of the legs of bracket 14 and which project upwardly from the latter. The upper projecting portions of the posts I8 are provided with aligned openings which slidably receive a supporting rod is, and threaded through the upper ends of the posts 58 are set screws 28 adapted to impinge the rod l to releasably secure the latter in longitudinally adjusted position relative to the posts It. The end of the rod i9 adjacent the needle 5 and presser foot 1 projects fro the adjacent post id toward said needle and presser foot and is received within an opening provided in one end of a cross bar Zlthat projects forwardly from the rod IS. A set screw 22 is threaded through the bar 2| in position to impinge the projecti end of rod I9 so as to adjustably and detachably secure the cross bar 2| to said rod IS.

The forwardly projecting end portion of cross bar 2| is provided with a pair of spaced horizontal parallel openings which receive the elongated leg slot, as at 26. Another set screw 21 i threaded through the bar 2| in position to impinge the rod 25 to adjustably secure the latter in position relative to said bar 2|. As illustrated in Figure 2, the strip I0 is fed downwardly through the U-shaped folder 23 at the outer side of the bar 2| or to that side of the latter which is at the left of the bar 2| in Figures 1 and 2. As the strip Iii is passed through this portion of the folder 23, it is centrally folded into U form and may then he directed rearwardly under the presser foot 1 for being stitched by the action of needle 6 and associated stitching mechanism of the sewing machine, to the edge of a garment. If the bar 25 is used, the reinforcing strip l3 may be simultaneously guided through the slot 26 of said bar 25 so as to be inserted between the opposed portions of the folded strip it in their passage rearwardly to the presser foot 1 and needle 6. Thus, when the folded strip I0 is attached to the edge of the garment, it will .be reinforced by the strip 3 disposed therein. By adjusting the element 23 and 25 to the left of the bar 2|, as viewed in Figure 2, the device may be adjusted to accommodate strips of varying widths according to the particular work at hand. To more effectively support the elements 23 and 25 with respect to each other and to more effectively secure their relative adjustment, the free end portions of the legs of folder 23 are received in openings of a second cross bar 28, and the guide bar 25 for the reinforcing strip I3 is also received in an opening of the cross bar 28 intermediate 'the'openings which receive the legs of the folder volving strips of varying widths that are to be folded and reinforced.

In order to properly guide the folded strip HI, and the reinforcing strip l3 when the latter is used, rearwardly to and under the presser foot 1, a guide rod 3| is provided having a return bent end portion whose free end 32 is received in an aperture of the cross bar 2| between the supporting bar l9 and the adjacent leg of the folder A set screw 33 is threaded through the bar 2| in position to impinge the end of the return bent end portion of rod 3| and it will be seen from Figures 3-to 5, inclusive, that the main or major portion of rod 3| is disposed below and rearwardly of the folder 23 in a horizontal position parallel with the latter. Also, by loosening set screw 33, this main or major portion of rod 3| may be shifted rearwardly and upwardly or downwardly to a desired elevation for properly directing the folded strip Ill to and under the presser foot 1.

When the sewing machine is in use, the reels 9 and I2 carrying the strips of fabric l0 and I3 are rotatably mounted as shown in Figure l and the strips drawn from the reels. The strip I0 is folded and passed downwardly through the U-shaped folder 23 and fits about the slotted end portion of the guide bar 25. The strip I3 is passed downwardly through the slot 26 of the guide bar and will thus be disposed between folds of the strip l0 and serve as a reinforcement for the folded strip. After passing downwardly through the folder and the guide bar or rod,

the interleaved strips are extended toward and under the guide rod 3| and then directed toward and under the presser foot 1, where they rest upon the cover plate of the sewing machine and edges of the folded strip ii] and the reinforcing strips are sewed to each other and may alsoits use is not required. However, if preferred,

. rod IS with the elements 23, 25 and 3|. '35

the folder 23, guide rod 25, and'guide rod 3| may be detached from the supporting rod 19 and bracket M by simply loosening setscrew 22 so as to permit removal of the cross bar 2! from said This will permit use of the sewing machine for any purpose where folding of a strip is not required.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. It will be seen that the attachment is very simple and economical to manufacture, easy to install, easy to adjust, and of compact and durable construction. Minor changes in details of construction illustrated and described are contemplated, such as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. 7

What I claim is: V

1. A sewing machine attachment of the character described comprising a cross bar having a pair of transverse openings therethrough, and

an elongated U-shaped strip folding rod having a bridge and spaced legs extending therefrom and slidably disposed through said openings, set screws threaded through said bar and impinging the legs of said folding rod, a reinforcing strip guide bar interposed between the legs of said folding rod and having a longitudinally slotted end portion disposed in a passage defined by the cross-bar and the bridge and inner portions of the legs of said folding rod for reception of a re inforcing strip for the strip of material folded by said folding rod, and a set screw threaded through the bar in position to impinge the guide bar.

2. A sewing machine attachment of the character described comprising a cross bar having a pair of transverse openings therethrough, an elongated U-shaped strip folding rod having its legs slidably disposed through said openings, and

set screwsthreaded through said bar impinging of the legs of said folding rod for reception of a reinforcing strip for the strip of material folded by said folding rod, and a set screw threaded through the bar in position to impinge the guide bar, said folding rod and said guide bar being longitudinally adjustable through the bar relative to each other to accommodat strips of varying widths.

3. A sewing machine attachment of the character described comprising a cross bar having a pair of transverse openings therethrough, and an elongated U-shaped strip folding rod having its legs slidably disposed through said openings, and set screws threaded through said bar and impinging the legs of said folding rod, and a reinforcing strip guide bar interposed between the legs of said folding rod longitudinally thereof and slidably passing through the cross-bar and having a longitudinally slotted end portion disposed between the inner portions of the legs of said folding rod for reception of a reinforcing strip for the strip of material folded by said folding rod, a set screw threaded through the bar in position to impinge the guide bar, and a second cross bar having openings slidably receiving the free end portions of the folding rod and the slotted bar and having set screws threaded therethrough in position to impinge said end portions of the folding rod and the slotted bar.

4. A sewing machine attachment of the character described comprising a cross bar having a pair of transverse openings therethrough, and an elongated U-shaped strip folding rod having its legs slidably disposed through said openings, set screws threaded through said bar and impinging the legs of said folding rod, and a reinforcing strip guide bar interposed between the legs of said folding rod and extending longitudinally thereof and having a longitudinally slotted inner end portion disposed between the inner portions of the legs of said folding rod for reception of a reinforcing strip for the strip of material folded by said folding rod, and a set screw threaded through the bar in position to impinge the guide bar, a second cross bar having openings slidably receiving the free end portions of the folding rod and having set screws threaded therethrough in position to impinge said end portions of the folding rod, said second-named cross bar havinga third opening therethrough receiving an outer end portion of the guide bar, and a further set screw threaded through the second-named bar and impinging the guide bar.

5. A sewing machine attachment of the character described comprising a cross bar having a pair of transverse openings therethroug'h, an elongated U-shaped strip folding rod having its legs slidably disposed through said openings, set screws threaded through said bar and impinging the legs of said folding rod, a support for said cross bar including a bracket attachable to the front of a sewing machine and having a rod parallel with the folding rod, an end of the cross bar having an opening receiving an end of said supporting bar, and a rod shiftable through the cross-bar longitudinally of the strip-folding rod between legs thereof and formed with a slot for receiving a reinforcing strip and guiding the same into place between leaves of a folded strip.

6. A sewing machine attachment of the character described comprising a substantially U- shaped bracket having an end extension attachable to the front of a sewing machine, posts attached to the end portions of said bracket and rising therefrom, a rod longitudinally slidable through the upper ends of said posts and having one end projecting outwardly from the bracket, set screws securing said supporting rod relative to said posts, a cross bar receiving the projecting end of said supporting bar and projecting forwardly therefrom, a strip folding rod carried by and adjustable transversely of said cross bar, said strip folding rod being of an elongated U-shaped formation and having its legs slidable through the cross bar, means to adjustably secure the folding rod relative to said cross bar, and a rod shiftable longitudinally between legs of the strip-folding rod and formed with a longitudinal slot for receiving a reinforcing strip and directing the same between leaves of the folded strip.

CHARLES W. MARTIN. 

